NAIROBI, Kenya – Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna has criticised President William Ruto over claims that former President Uhuru Kenyatta is funding political candidates opposed to the government, demanding evidence to support the allegations.
Speaking on Tuesday, August 25, 2026, Sifuna questioned why the President relied on media reports as evidence of alleged political funding by Uhuru, despite Ruto’s frequent criticism of the media.
Sifuna said Ruto should instead have cited intelligence reports or other verifiable information if the government had evidence that Uhuru was financing the Linda Mwananchi political movement.
“When he was asked about proof, he said he read it in the newspapers,” Sifuna said, questioning why the President had chosen to believe a media report after repeatedly dismissing critical newspaper coverage of his administration as propaganda or fake news.
Sifuna challenges Ruto’s evidence
Sifuna argued that the President’s reliance on newspaper reports weakened the credibility of the sponsorship claims.
He pointed to previous instances in which Ruto had rejected media reports concerning issues such as the Social Health Authority (SHA) and alleged corruption, only to rely on a newspaper report when making allegations against Uhuru.
The Nairobi senator said the President should provide evidence rather than make political claims based on media headlines.
The remarks came after Ruto accused Uhuru of sponsoring candidates seeking to challenge his administration ahead of the 2027 General Election.
Sifuna defends opposition agenda
Sifuna also dismissed Ruto’s repeated demands for him and Linda Mwananchi leaders to explain their political manifesto to Kenyans.
The senator argued that voters already understood the opposition’s agenda, which he said includes a renewed focus on constitutionalism, the rule of law and equality.
He suggested that Ruto’s repeated demands for a detailed manifesto showed that the President had failed to understand the opposition’s message.
Sifuna said the political movement was focused on what he described as broader governance and institutional reforms rather than simply seeking power.
Criticism of SHA
The Nairobi senator also renewed his criticism of the government’s Social Health Authority, arguing that the medical cover was not working effectively for Kenyans.
He accused Ruto of misleading the public over the performance of the health insurance programme and linked the criticism to what he described as promises made during the 2022 presidential campaign.
Sifuna said he would not make promises to Kenyans merely to win political office.
He further accused the President of obtaining power through what he termed “false pretences,” an allegation Ruto and his allies have consistently rejected.
Political tensions rise ahead of 2027
The exchange highlights the increasingly heated political environment ahead of the 2027 General Election.
Ruto and opposition figures have intensified their attacks as political alliances and possible presidential candidacies take shape.
Uhuru’s name has increasingly featured in the political debate, with government allies accusing him of supporting efforts to challenge Ruto, while the former president has denied returning to active politics or acting as a political sponsor.
Sifuna, meanwhile, has emerged as one of the more outspoken critics of the Ruto administration and a prominent figure within the emerging opposition movement.
